Chapter 11 - Fleeting Calm: Enjoy It While It Lasts

This is the last week of the exchange program, and what a wild ride it's been! My training with Soro has been improving, but I still have a long way to go. Soro tells me my senses are sharpening, but that no-kill policy is still my Achilles' heel. I mean, who needs to kill when you can just... persuade people, right?

Since the last encounter with the clone, things have been pretty quiet. Too quiet. I'm starting to get a little bored, to be honest. But then, Sylvia calls me and drops a bombshell - someone's staying with them, and it's none other than Maya, the tiny tornado!

I'm concerned, to say the least. I need to chat with Soro about this. I meet him again and ask, "Why is Maya hanging around school?”

Soro shrugs and says, "She wanted to. Not my problem." Oh, come on, Soro! That's exactly your problem!

I press him for more info. "So, it's just because of her interest?”

Soro sighs and explains, "When Maya's interested in something, I'd rather not force her down. She'll do it anyway... I don't understand that little brain of hers." Yeah, good luck with that, Soro!

I'm not convinced, so I ask again, "Are you sure, Senior?”

Soro smirks and says, "Rather than worrying about Maya, you should focus on your family case...". Oh, he's playing hardball now! Time to bring out the big guns!

"Oh yeah... then where does she live right now?" I press Soro, determined to get the truth out of him.

Soro tries to brush it off, "She could live anywhere, even in the jungle... I don't really care. Ask Maruk, maybe he knows." Ugh, he's avoiding it like the plague!

I call his bluff, "Fine, I'll go with your excuse then..." But just as I'm about to give up, Maruk bursts in, interrupting our conversation.

"Maya's academic prowess is truly remarkable. Typically, she's been homeschooled due to her accelerated learning pace. However, at 7 years old, she's already demonstrating intellectual capabilities that surpass her peers. It's almost as if she's absorbing knowledge at an exponential rate, leaving us to wonder what her true potential might be.”

"Okay... why BORNEO-SIGMA?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Mr. Maruk's expression turned sarcastic. "Because she wanted to know more about you, son... how sweet.”

I frowned, unsure what to make of it. "I really don't understand what's going on in her little brain.”

Mr. Maruk and Soro chimed in unison, "You don't need to.”

I threw up my hands in exasperation. "Uh huh... great, just what I need.”

Mr. Maruk's demeanor turned serious. "For now, we've uncovered plenty about your background... but one of my men found a file that changes everything." He handed me a folder, and I scanned the contents, my eyes widening as I saw my name mentioned.

"This is... from... my mom?" The file was dated last year and mentioned research on a cure and specimen improvement. As I flipped through the pages, I saw my name again, and my heart skipped a beat.

Maruk's voice was low and urgent. "Seems like you're at the heart of this... and... be wary, because now I don't even want to trust either side." His words sent a shiver down my spine.

I read on, my mind racing. The file discussed the specimen's behavior and physical reports, including comparisons to Lilith and other clones. My mom's handwriting mentioned the need for more research.

"A lot to absorb, and I'm worried about your own safety," Maruk said, his eyes locked on mine.

In this hidden corner of the school, I felt Soro's gun trained on me. "Like I said... my conclusion is you're dangerous... that dormant power inside you is about to awaken, and..." He hesitated, then lowered his gun. "If it wasn't for your training with Marcus first, you'd definitely be my target to kill.”

I gazed down, my serious moment spiraling into the twilight zone. "If I look at this situation... and even Mr. Hawk's advice... I need to choose..." I trailed off, unsure.

Mr. Maruk nodded gravely, but Soro cut in, "There's still time... although I'm pretty sure there's a reason behind all this... as if your mother is being forced…"

I murmured, "Yeah..." Soro and Maruk left, leaving me to ponder, but I'd rather not think about it and just be a student again.

Back in class, Awang greeted me with a grin. "Last week of the exchange, and you've been instrumental in track and field, giving a show of force to the other schools... even Victoria Institution is worried!”

Qabil chimed in, "Well, at least they don't know you're from the exchange program…"

Rasli snickered, "I'm pretty sure they'll never suspect our secret weapon... a playboy..."

Suddenly, I felt an intimidating aura from them... Wait, what?! We were discussing sports, and now I'm the playboy?! I'm the victim here!!! What the hell?!

I raised my hands in protest, "Hey, hey, hey! I'm not a playboy! I'm just... strategically friendly!”

Awang chuckled, "Save it, playboy! We've seen your skills in action!”

Qabil snickered, "Yeah, you've got a fan club following you around... or should I say, a fan club of admirers?”

Rasli grinned mischievously, "And we're not even counting the ones who want to take you down in the school's annual sports tournament!”

I shook my head, laughing, "You guys are impossible! I'm just trying to survive this exchange program in an all-boys school without losing my mind!”

Just then, our teacher, Mr. Maruk, walked in, a stern expression on his face. "Alright, alright, settle down. Today's lesson is... "

After class, we lounged around the school podium, chatting about nothing in particular. That's when Awang dropped the bombshell.

"You know, actually, we have girls in this program too..." He said it with a straight face, like it was no big deal.

My eyes widened in shock. "So you're telling me... there's a reason you needed me to be here?”

Awang smirked, enjoying the drama he was about to unleash. "Let's just say... you have a fan.”

I spat out my drink. "A girl?!”

Instantly, Qabil and Rasli turned on Awang, their eyes blazing with mock outrage. "HEY!!!!!! WE HAVE A TRAITOR!!!!" they shouted in unison, drawing a crowd.

Awang's poker face faltered, replaced by a look of utter confusion. "Eh? Wh-what's going on?”

I face-palmed. "You dumbass, you just blurted it out!”

Awang is still clueless, but his problem has just become mine.

"EARGH!!!!!!" The scream echoes through the hall as a group of single boys swoop in, causing chaos. I'd rather not get involved, but fate has other plans.

As I sit down, trying to chill, a sultry voice whispers in Spanish, "Nunca esperé verte cariño..." (I never expected to see you, dear). My heart skips a beat.

I turn to see Isabella, Luis's little sister, wearing a student uniform that hugs her curves in all the right places. Her long, curly hair cascades down her back like a waterfall, and her Latin American features leave me breathless.

She flings her arms around me, her ample chest pressing against mine. "Mi amor!" (My love!) I feel my face heat up as I wonder if she's even wearing a bra.

"Uh, Isabella, I have a million questions, but what the hell are you doing here?" I ask, trying to play it cool.

She pouts, "My brother's being an asshole, saying I need to go back to school. And since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I might as well take it." She bats her eyelashes, and I wonder how old she really is - 18 or 19, maybe?

But then she drops the bombshell: "Hey, I'm only 17 too, mi amor!" Wait, what?! Isabella is my age?!

This is a situation I need to avoid, or else I'll be dead meat if the other boys see us like this. I have to think fast, or I'll be the main course at the school's gossip buffet.

She stands up, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and explains again, "Well, this is also my last week here, and next, I'll return to the US... I'm in Marlborough School... it's an all-girls school... I'm in my final year, anyway..." She trails off, her voice getting softer as she inches closer to me.

I can feel my heart racing as she leans in, her face inches from mine. And then, I feel it - her boobs pressing against my chest. I try to play it cool, but my mind is screaming, "WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING?!”

She continues, her voice barely above a whisper, "But... I have a confession to make... I've had a crush on you since we met last year..." Her eyes lock onto mine, and I can see the sincerity there.

I'm taken aback, unsure of how to react. Part of me is thrilled, but another part is screaming, "DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! DANGER!" I mean, she's Luis's little sister, and I'm just a humble student trying to survive high school.

I need to make my escape, and fast! But before I can, I hear the ominous chant:

"Ceh!!" Rasli's voice rings out.

"Ceh!!" Qabil joins in.

"Ceh!!" The rest of the boys in the hostel chime in, cracking their knuckles in unison.

Death is literally at my doorstep, and I need a plan - pronto!

Isabella's voice cuts through the tension, "Mika's getting famous as a star..." Yeah, Mika Nakamura, the fiery little sister of Naomi, the girl I met in LA.

"Uh...this is..." I try to mediate the situation, but it's too late.

"Ceh!!" The boys close in, some of them spitting out their napkins in disgust.

"That bastard...that girl, most of us have been trying to approach her, and he just waltzes in and meets her!" one of them growls.

"That's a playboy for ya..." The situation is escalating, and I need to think fast or become the main course at the hostel's brawl buffet!

Isabella suddenly wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. This is getting REALLY dangerous.

"Uh...Isabella?" I ask, trying to pry her off me.\

"Big brother told me a lot about you," she whispers, her voice dripping with seduction. "He said, 'Go for it...make him yours...' LUIS!!!!! WHAT THE HELL!!!!? WHAT DID YOU TELL HER?!”

Isabella's eyes sparkle with mischief as she purrs, "I could do a blowjob right here if you want..." WHAT THE FUCK!!!!! She says it like it's a casual suggestion!

The room ERUPTS into chaos. "CEH!!!!" The boys and even the teacher join in, one of them brandishing a cricket bat like a weapon.

I'm trapped, with Isabella's curves pressed against me and a mob of angry boys closing in. This is a recipe for disaster!

"When I heard from the girls that a cute guy named Alex was around, I just had to find out... and what a coincidence... it's not Mika, nor anyone else... it's YOU!" Isabella exclaims, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

HOLY SHIT!!! This is the motherload of girl trouble I'm in now! Someone please help!!! ANYONE!!!!

I look around frantically for an escape route or a savior, but all I see is Soro giving me a thumbs up and a goofy grin. WHAT THE FUCK, SORO?! You're supposed to back me up, not encourage this chaos!

The boys close in, their faces twisted in a mix of anger and jealousy. The teacher tries to intervene, but it's too late. The situation has spiraled out of control.

Isabella's grip on me tightens, her nails digging into my arm. "You're not getting away from me that easily, Alex!" she whispers, her breath hot against my ear.

I'm trapped, with no escape from this whirlpool of girl trouble. It's time to think fast, or risk becoming the main course at the school's drama buffet!

"That bastard... GET HIM!!!!!" The boys' chorus of rage surrounds me, their faces twisted in a frenzy of anger and jealousy. I'm trapped, with no escape from this whirlpool of chaos.

FUCK!!!!!!!!!! My mind screams as I realize my life in this school is OVER.

The teacher tries to intervene, but it's too late. The boys close in, their fists flying. I raise my arms to defend myself, but there are too many of them.

Just as all hope seems lost, Soro leaps into the fray, his signature goofy grin replaced by a fierce determination. "Hey, hey, hey! No bullying on my watch!”

With a few swift kicks and punches, Soro takes down the boys, one by one. But just as we think we've escaped the chaos…

Isabella's voice rings out, "Not so fast, boys! He's mine!”

The boys part, revealing Isabella standing tall, her eyes blazing with a fierce possessiveness. "You're not getting away from me that easily, Alex!”

I'm caught in a tug-of-war between Isabella's obsession and the boys' jealousy. My life in this school has just become a real-life action movie!

As the dust settles, I stand frozen, surrounded by the chaos I've unleashed. Isabella's grip on my arm tightens, her eyes blazing with a fierce possessiveness. Soro stands guard, his eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of further trouble.

The teacher finally regains control, shouting, "Enough! This isn't a battlefield!”

The boys slink away, defeated, but I know this isn't the end. I've just become the center of a storm, and I'm not sure if I can weather it.

Isabella's voice whispers in my ear, "You're mine now, Alex. Forever.”

I glance at Soro, who shrugs and mouths, "Good luck, dude.”

And with that, my life in this school takes a dramatic turn. I'm no longer just Alex, the transfer student. I'm now the object of obsession, the prize to be won.

The question is, can I survive it until the end of the week?